How to Remove Cemented Flange From a PVC Toilet Drain Pipe

You must cut through a PVC toilet flange to remove it.

The toilet flange holds the toilet to the floor and is also the fitting that serves as the inlet for the waste line. When you want to remove one, you must cut its connection to the waste line as well as unscrewing it from the floor. PVC flanges are much less complicated to remove than cast iron ones. Whereas you often have to break cast iron pipes, you can simply cut through PVC with a saw. A special drill attachment further simplifies the task by eliminating the need to cut the flange from under the floor.

1

Shut off the water to the toilet, disconnect the supply hose from the toilet tanks and unbolt the toilet from the floor with a wrench. Lift off the toilet and set it aside.

2

Slide the toilet bolts out of the grooves on the flange. Clean all the wax off the flange with a putty knife and deposit the wax on a sheet of old newspaper for disposal.

3

Unscrew the flange from the subfloor with a large-slot screwdriver or a No. 3 Phillips screwdriver.

4

Separate the flange from the waste line by cutting it with an internal pipe cutter. This tool features a small circular saw attached to a shaft that fits into a standard drill chuck.

5

Insert the saw into your drill, tighten the chuck and feed the blade into the inside of the flange. Set the drill in forward gear and cut through the flange at the point where it meets the waste pipe, or about 3 to 4 inches from the flange opening.

6

Lift the flange straight off the subfloor.

Things You Will Need

Wrench

Putty knife

Newspaper

Large-slot or No. 3 Phillips screwdriver

Internal pipe cutter

Drill

Tip

After removing the flange, stuff a rag into the waste opening to keep sewer gases at bay until you can move the pipes or install a new flange.

About the Author

A love of fundamental mysteries led Chris Deziel to obtain a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. A prolific carpenter, home renovator and furniture restorer, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies.